A quality invitation includes the stewardship letters written to the congregation and information concerning proportionate giving. The intent is to promote prayerful self-examination of the use of money and talent. This includes much of what is usually called a stewardship campaign.

  4. A formal pledging mechanism

The making of a financial commitment has not been part of the culture. This must change since this is the final step in the process of faith self examination, this is where the rubber hits the road. A financial commitment is just part of commitment to our faith. We need to openly discuss financial matters including commitment. Financial commitment will become the normal expectation each year. Letters will be sent by the warden, stewardship chair and rector including information concerning the ministries, finances and commitment cards. A stewardship event will be held and a luncheon is suggested which has a program developed by the stewardship committee.

  5. Commitment of time and talent

There are many ministries at St. Paul’s that require additional time and talent to prosper. To this end all will be asked to commit time and talent and to indicate the ministries that they wish to serve.
This will be done at the same time as the financial commitment information is distributed.

  6. Ongoing communication about ministry to the parish

Each of the ministries will communicate through announcements, newsletter or other. The key is the requirement to communicate how the deployment of time, talent and treasure is continuing to have an impact on people’s lives.

 Stewardship Program Calendar

March-April                      Completion of ministry descriptions and visions

April-May                         Creation of narrative budget

April-August                     Creation of stewardship brochure
                                         Contact information cards

September-October          Arrangements complete for contact phoning
                                         Warden’s letter to each household with stewardship brochure enclosed
                                         Each household receives telephone invitation to stewardship luncheon
                                         Stewardship chair letter to each household with proportionate giving information and commitment cards etc.

October-November           Rector’s letter to each parishioner re: stewardship luncheon and Commitment Sunday
                                         The stewardship luncheon on Commitment Sunday

November-December        Stewardship committee wraps up for the year and completes review, evaluation of current year and planning for next year.

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Ministries

Ministry of Outreach

Our Scripture base for this Ministry:

   Matthew 25:40 “Truly I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you did it to me.”

Objectives: we have a distinct awareness of our community and we serve it my:

• Accepting Christ’s challenge to work and help those who are less fortunate
• Supporting diocesan, national and international outreach programs including the Primates World Relief and Development Fund (PWRDF)
• Participating in outreach programs in our community including senior’s programs, children’s programs and programs for long term care facilities.
• Welcoming new members and families and encouraging involvement

Current Action:

• Deacons cupboard and Rector’s discretionary fund
• Shoe box ministry – supplying packed shoe boxes
• Volunteer as shoe box coordinator and volunteer shoe box packers
• Annual baby shower
• TAPS subscription to “Taproot”
• Christmas hampers – 12 hampers
• Donation to Love Your City from mission and outreach fund
• Donations to PWRDF
• Bursary to send 2 children to Camp Columbia
• Operation eyesight
• Volunteer hours to Camp Columbia, Sorrento Centre, Aboriginal
• Adopt a senior building – Grafton Lodge

Two Year Action Plan

• To work with seniors and children in Esqumalt community
• To work with the other Esquimalt churches
• To continue to support and focus on other outreach programs which could change yearly
• Adopt a seniors building

Commitment of Time and Money:

Last year our estimated investment in our Ministry of Outreach was $32,927 of our budget or about 21% of our total budget plus $5,000 in direct offering such as PWRDF and residential schools, plus 350 volunteer hours; and 240 hours or our Rector’s time.

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Ministry of Parish Life

Our Scripture base for this Ministry:

   John 10:10: “I have come that they may have life and have it abundantly.”

Objectives: we affirm, accept and welcome visitors and members into the life of the congregation by:

• Extending warm greetings and crating friendly first impressions
• Being aware of the needs of newcomers and visitors
• Using language that is meaningful to everyone, especially newcomers
• Promoting and cultivating a welcoming community
• Maintaining our physical facilities, lawns, gardens, and creating a user friendly building
• Publicizing parish events publications and other community channels
• Advertising church worship, and educational and social activities
• Providing a network of relationships where every person can be connected to some ministry or group
• Provide regular gatherings and opportunities for fellowship 
• Providing a welcome and a home to many groups and services in our community

Current Actions:

• Providing a guest book, a welcome booklet, follow-up information and thank you cards
• Developing parish brochures and welcome packets
• Maintain fellowship activities – coffee hour, men’s breakfast, parish suppers, bake sales, Christmas sales
• Maintaining an informative web site at www.stpaulsesquimalt.com
• Publish the Anchor Chain to publicize parish activities
• Continue to maintain the church and hall through the current maintenance committee projects
• The Holly Bazaar and the bridge luncheons are supported by the Ladies Evening Group
• Crafts for the bazaar and other needs are produced by the Craft Group
• Music concerts are produced several times each year
• The church gardens are maintained by parishioners
• The church and hall are maintained by a group of volunteers who do the maintenance directly or by contract
• The parish has a Little Helper Program
• Other social events are held such as the annual picnic and special dinners

Two Year Action Plan

• Have church open 2 hours per day 3 times per week
• Develop leadership to take responsibility for each objective
• Develop phoning tree to communicate information concerning church events and activities and to find out how they are doing
• Communicate any needs to the appropriate persons
• Communicate any known changes to the parish list to the church secretary
• Have the greeters meet on a regular basis and have a greeter training program that will expand the role

Commitment of Time and Money:

Last year our estimated investment in our Ministry of Parish Life was $20,330 or 13% of our total budget, plus 1500 volunteer hours; and 360 hours of our Rector’s time.

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Ministry of Worship and Music

Our Scripture base for this Ministry:

   Psalm 100:2 “Worship the LORD with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs.”

Objectives: to facilitate our worship of God we assist our Rector by:

• spiritual help and guidance
• prayer partners to pray privately with people after each Sunday service
• prayer through support of the prayer chain
• arranging for Greeters who welcome the community, provide introductions and information, assist with coats, seating, provide assistance after the service, direct parishioners to the altar, introduce newcomers to the clergy and others, collect the offering, tidy the pews, and communicate the needs of the community to the wardens
• coordinating the development and scheduling of servers and lay administrants who assist or Clergy, serve at the table of Holy Communion, and symbolize God’s call to serve one another in the love of Christ
• coordinating the development of readers who speak with clarity and confidence to the congregation
• coordinating the development of prayer leaders who prepare and lead intercessions, share concerns with each other and God, and provide opportunities for corporate and individual prayers
• coordinating the development of the Altar Guild who prepare the vessels, linens, and lectionary used in services, as well as decorate the church for special festivals
• coordinating the Chancel Guild who decorates the church for Sundays and special festivals
• assisting in the selection of appropriate music and drama for regular services and special occasions
• assisting in the developing and providing of quality instrumental music and singing to enhance the spiritual experience
• providing musical leadership and training for the congregation

Current Actions

• Planned and create the “Ashes to Easter” Lenten
• Created and organized a 24 hour Vigil of Prayer for St. Paul’s on March 24^th
• Liased with the Rector on plans for Holy Week and the Maundy Thursday potluck supper and liturgy
• Assist the music director in the selection of new anthems
• Parish T-shirts will be created and made available
• Organizing an old-time “Revival Day” of prayer and praise in Memorial Park and will be inviting everyone to join in whether Christian or non-Christian alike
• Will assist with the ongoing plans for Sunday School in September 2006/7
• Will assist in the planning of the Primate’s visit and Harvest festival liturgy
• Will provide leadership in the Advent study program
• Will assist in the plans for music and liturgy for Advent, Christmas and Epiphany

Two Year Action Plan

• Will establish a vital youth ministry and contemporary music team
• Will assist in the development of a third service of contemporary style
• Will provide leadership in and help to create more ecumenical and community faith-sharing opportunities
• Will continue to assist and support the rector and the music director in all areas of liturgical worship
• Develop an altar guild organization

Commitment of Time and Money:

Last year our estimated investment in our Ministry of Worship and Music was $44,164 or 28% or our total budget, plus 3500 volunteer hours; and 600 hours for our Rector’s time.

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Ministry of Christian Education

Our Scripture base for this Ministry:

   Matthew 9:35 “Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.”

Objectives: to continue to grow spiritually we must:

• regularly plan for ongoing Christian education for the congregation
• support children’s and youth ministry
• acquire and use education materials from the Diocese and other sources
• encourage adult education opportunities, workshops, and retreats
• maintain contact and discussions with others involved in Christian education in our community and throughout the diocese

Current Action:

• Participation in the Bucanneer Days Parade by the Sunday School and all others interested
• Sunday School and nursery programs each Sunday
• Advent and Lenten study programs
• Prayer Chain
• Stewardship education program
• Marriage and baptismal education

Two Year Action Plan

• Offer bible study groups and adult education courses
• Offer short term adult education programs for new members
• Confirmation preparation
• Develop education experience for evangelism, mission, outreach and new member ministry

Commitment of Time and Money:

Last year our estimated investment in our Ministry of Christian Education was $ 16,723 or about 11 % of our total budget, plus 1000 volunteer hours; and 360 hours or our Rector’s time.

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Ministry of Evangelism

Our Scripture base for this Ministry:

   Matthew 28:19 “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy spirit”.

Objectives: To make the good news of Jesus Christ known to others:

• talking about our faith often and comfortably
• talking encouraging other parishes, clergy, and laity to respond to the challenger of evangelism
• being passionate about mission and attuned to our role as evangelists in the community
• understanding ourselves as ministers of the Gospel by virtue of our baptism
• ensuring that the liturgies are alive, relevant and transforming
• developing and implementing our parish plan for evangelism
• acquiring the resources needed for evangelism
• being a thriving and financially self-sufficient parish

Current Action:

• Spread the good news of Jesus Christ and to invite people to discover the transforming powers of the gospel by:
• Welcoming (greeting) newcomers at Church
• Advertizing in Esquimalt News, Diocesan Post
• Participating in Love Esquimalt, Vic West, and View Royal
• Easter Sunrise and Advent joint services

Two Year Action Plan

• Develop and implement a parish plan for evangelism
• Acquire the resources needed for evangelism
• Enhance our New Member ministry
• Develop closer relationships with other Christian communities in Esquimalt

Commitment of Time and Money:

Last year our estimated investment in our Ministry of Evangelism was $14,623 or about 9% of our total budget, plus 265 volunteer hours; and 360 hours or our Rector’s time.

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Ministry of Pastoral Care

Our Scripture base for this Ministry:

   1 Peter 5:2 “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers – not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be”.

Objectives: our Rector, staff, and parishioners are mindful of people in need, and provide:

• crisis counseling and ongoing counseling
• Communion for shut-ins, seniors, and those in hospital
• hospital visits and meals, flowers, cards, and notes to shutins
• Baptism and Marriage preparation
• funeral planning, funeral services, and bereavement visits-transportation for medical appointments, shopping, hospitality-space for community groups e.g.
• maintain contact with all members of parish

Current Action:

• Ongoing lay pastoral care ministry begun in 2001 with the active recruitment and training of volunteers
• Regular contact is maintained with the parishioners on each volunteer’s list
• Team has been used as a model to establish another team at St. John the Devine
• Contact lists are revised regularly to include all new members of our church
• Providing ongoing training and workshops in specific areas of pastoral care – specifically communication, listening, crises resolution, grief counseling and prayer
• Regular contact of members of the parish by telephone

Two Year Action Plan

• Expand the team by recruiting additional members
• Expand ministry to include visiting shut ins and hospital visiting
• Develop a grief support group
• Develop a vision to minister to the youth of the community as well as the parish – possible teen group for grief and loss.
• Develop and deliver workshops and seminars in pastoral care for the parish and wider community

Commitment of Time and Money:

Last year our estimated investment in our Ministry of Pastoral Care was $28,294 or 18% of our total budget, plus 800 volunteer hours; and 600 hours of our Rector’ s time.

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The Narrative Budget

A Narrative Budget shows what ministries we are supporting and how we are budgeting our resources to carry out our mission. This budget is an open document that allows us all to be accountable and faithful in doing God’s work. This assurance results in trust and confidence that the offerings are indeed continuing Christ’s work in the world.

The Narrative Budget for St. Paul’s is divided into six ministries:

• Worship and Music
• Outreach
• Evangelism
• Christian Education
• Pastoral Care
• Parish Life

Each of these will include a scripture base, ministry objectives, current actions, two-year action plan with the commitment of time and money and a narrative of how our lives have been changed.

The creation of this Narrative Budget is well underway and will be completed this fall.

There are four great benefits that are derived from the Narrative Budget:

Demonstrates that the congregation is cost effective

Salaries and utilities are often considered fixed or overhead expenses that do not contribute to “real” ministries. The Narrative budget clarifies how each of these expenditures allow the 6 ministries to be carried out.

Current actions of each of these ministries are clearly identified. The whole congregation and the whole wider community develops an increased awareness of the diversity of ministry taking place at St. Paul’s. This awareness is essential to achieving an increased willingness to offer of our time and money.

    Identifies not just contributions of money but those of time and talent as well.

The effort that we all put into a ministry is adequately measured only if we identify both the money and time expended. This gains us an understanding of where are current priorities lie.

   Allows the development of a Parish Mission Statement and Parish Priorities

The six ministries together encompass all the work of the parish and allow us to see the parish work as a whole. Through the planning of our current action and future actions we effectively set priorities. We can’t do everything so we have to consciously decided on priorities and bring these to fruition. This thoughtful and prayerful review can result in the development of a Parish Mission Statement that will help guide our future efforts.

   Tells our story at St. Paul’s

The Narrative Budget will also include a description of events in the life of St. Paul’s Parish. It tells the story of how not only the parish has been changed but how lives have been changed.

Stewardship is an expression of faith. The Narrative budget is a tool that allows us to choose how we are responding to God’s call to each of us at St. Paul’s.

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         Based on projected parish spending until the end of 2006.

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STEWARDSHIP SUNDAY November 26, 2006 FORWARD IN FAITH SERVICES: 8:30 and 10:30 am Stewardship Sunday is a celebration of all the commitments made by the members of the parish. Each member is asked to make a comment of time and money towards the ministries of St. Paul's. How can you make a contribution? The Ministry Plans are challenging and exciting and require the commitment of both time and money to succeed. Special stewardship talks will take place at the 8:30 and 10:30 services as follows: October 29 - David Buckman - 8:30 & 10:30 November 5 - Drew Brazier - 8:30 & 10:30 November 19 - The Rt. Rev. John Hannen In addition stewardship information will be made available to all parishioners concerning these ministries and their stewardship needs. Stewardship is how we respond to God's Grace in our lives.

STEWARDSHIP DEVELOPMENT GROUP Stewardship Comittee Drew Brazier Rev. Andrew Gates Anne Gauvreau David Buckman Bunny Pool St. Paul’s Financial Stewardship Plan was approved at the 2006 Vestry Meeting. The ministries at St. Paul’s have plans for the next 2 years. The ministries are: Outreach Parish Life Worship and Music Christian Education Evangelism Pastoral Care The Stewardship Plan, Ministry Plans, our narrative budget and other stewardship information are available on the parish website or through the parish office. The Stewardship Committee is committed to making St. Paul’s a self-sustaining parish in 2007.

STEWARDSHIP Forward in Faith St. Paul's Anglican Church 1379 Esquimalt Road Esquimalt, B.C. V9A 3R4 250-386-6833 Email: stpauls@pacificcoast.net website: www.stpaulsesquimalt.com Rector The Rev. Canon Andrew E. Gates Honourary Asst. The Rev. Ken Colison Honourary Asst. The Rev. Ben Turton Warden Emeritus Bunny Pool Rector's Warden Suzanne Williams People's Warden Dian Hanna

	SOME THINGS THAT WE ARE DOING	SOME THINGS THAT WE HOPE TO DO DURING THE NEXT 2 YEARS	HOW WE CAN DO IT
Outreach	Through Shoe Box and Deacon’s cupboard Ministries Christmas Hampers and donations to the PWRDF Love Your Community	Services to seniors and children in Esquimalt Adopt a Senior’s Building	Additional volunteers and financial offers will allow the existing outreach activities to expand and to start new activities Five people for 2 hours per week are needed.
Parish Life	Welcoming/greeting ministry Fellowship activities, anchor chain, crafts, dinners, bazaar, breakfasts Maintaining the building and facilities	Re-activate the phoning tree to communicate with all and expand the greeting ministry. Have the church open 2 hours per day 3X per week. Repair the parish hall roof and exterior.	Volunteers coordinators and phoners are needed. (4 or more people needed) Volunteers to allow the church to be open are needed. (6 or more people needed) Current repairs to the hall will cost of about $30,000.
Worship And Music	Regular and special services, regular music program, special musical activities and concerts	Develop an Altar Guild Develop youth services and contemporary music Participate in shared activities with other local churches	Leadership is needed for youth work and contemporary music/worship. Altar Guild leadership and members are needed. (8 people needed) Members are needed to go outside out parish and be part of the greater church.
Christian Education	Regular Sunday School for children. Advent and Lenten programs. Marriage and Baptism.	Offer adult Christian education program. Offer short term adult education program for new members and others.	Volunteers are needed to develop an adult education and new member education program. (4 people needed)
Evangelism	Welcoming of new comers Advertising in local newspapers	Develop a plan for a new member ministry	Leadership is needed to help us all to spread the Good News.(3 or more people needed)
Pastoral Care	Telephone ministry and counseling Pastoral Care training	Expanded ministry to shut ins and hospitals Grief support group Develop and offer pastoral care workshop for the wider community	New volunteers are critical to allowing this vision to be achieved. (12 people needed)

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St. Paul's Narrative Budget - Volunteer Hours - 2006
Outreach	Parish Life	Worship & Music	Christian Education	Evangelism	Pastoral Care	Total Budget
$32,927	$20,330	$44,164	$16,723	$14,623	$28,294	$157,061

         Based on projections until the end of 2006.

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St. Paul’s Anglican Church 1379 Esquimalt Road Victoria, B.C. V9A 3R4 Phone:  386-6833        Fax:  386-6842

 October 2006

 Dear Friends,

 Greetings to all members, friends and supporters of St. Paul's. Stewardship Sunday has been set for November 26^th and is an important day for all of us. Stewardship work that was approved at the 2006 vestry meeting is a major part of the re-vitalization program at St. Paul’s that we have all committed to. This letter is also intended to express our appreciation to the parish for the time and energy expended in stewardship during the last year.

  On October 29, November 5 and 19 we will have talks on stewardship during the Sunday services.

  October 29 – David Buckman

  November 5 – Drew Brazier

  November 19 – The Rt. Rev. John Hannen

  We give thanks for the support of the people of this parish in sustaining the ministries at St. Paul’s. In this regard we have done significant work in defining these ministries and developing plans for the next two year period. We have enclosed the St. Paul’s Stewardship Brochure that encapsulates some key points on each of these ministries. In the coming weeks you will gain more information about these ministries. We hope that this will be of help to you in deciding areas where you may wish to offer your time and talents. You may wish to share this brochure with others that may be interested in the work of the parish. The brochure tells some exciting things that are currently happening and lists some major opportunities for the coming two years. In addition it indicates what is needed to do the things that we want to do.

 The approved 2006 budget for the parish planned for a deficit of $28,000.  As a result of your response during 2006 we are very happy to report that indications are that although we will end 2006 with a deficit, the deficit will be small.  We are committed to a balanced budget for 2007 and will be asking your support and approval at the annual vestry meeting in 2007.

 The culmination of these stewardship activities will be St. Paul ’s Stewardship Sunday on November 26^th.  The enclosed commitment card asks you to commit to offering both your time and your financial support.  It is only through your support that the plans for these ministries at St. Paul ’s can be achieved.  You are invited to prayerfully place your commitment card on the offering plate for blessing on Stewardship Sunday. If you are unable to attend on November 26 your card may also be placed in the offering plate on a subsequent Sunday or in the secure church mailbox.

 

 Yours in Christ,

 Suzanne Williams                                              Dian Hanna

Rector’s Warden                                              People’s Warden 

 

 We pray,

 Help us, who have received so freely from you, to give as freely in our turn and so share the blessedness of giving as the happiness of receiving.

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St. Paul’s Anglican Church 1379 Esquimalt Road Victoria, B.C. V9A 3R4 Phone:  386-6833        Fax:  386-6842

FORWARD IN FAITH

November 2006

Dear Friends,

 Greetings to all members, friends and supporters of St. Pauls.  Last week you received a letter from the wardens of St. Paul ’s that included some information concerning our stewardship program and also asked for your prayerful support for our ministries.

 In keeping with the stewardship plan approved at the 2006 vestry meeting your stewardship committee, whose members are Drew Brazier, Rev. Andrew Gates, Anne Gauvreau, David Buckman and Bunny Pool, have endeavored to realize this plan.  The vision of the stewardship plan was to change how we view what we do at St. Paul ’s.  We are about ministry – ministry that glorifies God. 

 

An explanation of the ministry of St. Paul’s Parish

 The ministries of Outreach, Parish Life, Worship and Music, Christian Education, Evangelism and Pastoral Care have completed descriptions, two year plans and the financial and time expended on each determined.  You will find the results of this work enclosed on pages 1-7.  A short summary of this work is also included in the stewardship brochure that you have received.

 We at St. Paul ’s are about ministry.  All that we do can be included in these six ministries.  It is exciting to see all the ministry work recorded for each ministry but even more exciting is that there is much more that each ministry hopes to do over the next two years.  These ministries need your volunteer time and leadership and financial support to grow and prosper.

 

Narrative Budget Creation

 As each ministry was analyzed an estimate was made of the staff time, volunteer time and money expended on each ministry.  The result is indicated at the end of the plan for each ministry and is also enclosed in chart form on page 7.  Take a look at the budget and volunteer hours charts by ministry and you can quickly compare the relative effort by ministry.  A narrative budget for 2007 will be presented at the 2007 vestry meeting.

 

An Individual Examination of Proportionate Giving Habits

 Proportionate giving means the share of our personal resources of time and talent and money that are being devoted to the Lord’s work on a regular schedule.  It is a commitment made in response to the love that God has shown to us.  Tithing is the standard by which we measure or offerings.  All that we have and all that we are and all that we become has come from God and still belongs to God.

In this regard please find enclosed a proportionate giving table on page 8.  Along the left side is weekly income and across the chart is the weekly offering amount by percentage.  You can easily determine where you are presently and where you want to be on the chart.  Maybe you can’t get there all at once but you can make a personal plan to increase your offering until you do reach the level. 

 

A Formal Commitment Mechanism For Both Time and Financial Support

 Last week you received the stewardship commitment card.  There are also cards available at the entrance to the church.  You are asked to prayerfully complete this card of support for the ministries at St. Paul ’s.

 

3 Prayerful Steps to Commitment  

   1.      Decide what you have in both money and time.

   2.      Decide what portion of money and time that you have to offer.

   3.      Decide where to give your offerings of time by ministry.

 

Ongoing Communication About Ministry to the Parish

 During the last year articles about the ministries have been included in the newsletter.  Stewardship notes are included in the bulletin on a weekly basis.  Information on the ministries will continue to be communicated to you in future.  Information on stewardship has been added to the parish web site (www.stpaulsesquimalt.com).

 A narrative budget will be presented at the 2007 vestry meeting for discussion and approval.  This signifies a change in emphasis – we are about ministry at St. Pauls.

 Commitment Sunday is November 26^th and is an important day for all of us.  I ask that you support the ministries here at St. Paul ’s by committing to offering of your time and financial support on the commitment card.  Let’s all be part of the exciting revitalization of St. Paul’s as a place of ministry.  Lets all move forward in faith.

 

 Yours in Christ,

 Drew Brazier

  Stewardship Committee

 

We pray,

 All that I have and all that I am is yours, Lord. 

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St. Paul’s Anglican Church 1379 Esquimalt Road Victoria, B.C. V9A 3R4 Phone:  386-6833        Fax:  386-6842

November 2006

“And here we offer and present unto thee, O Lord, ourselves, our souls and bodies, to be a reasonable, holy, and living sacrifice unto thee. And although we are unworthy, yet we beseech thee to accept this our bounden duty and service, not weighing our merits, but pardoning our offences; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, world without end.  Amen.”               BCP p. 86

My dear friends and fellow family members of St Paul’s, Esquimalt.

            One of the greatest privileges I have as your Rector is talking to you about stewardship. You may think me rather strange because of that, no matter. The privilege comes because for me stewardship is a matter of the heart. Your heart and mine! If it were only about money, I would find it difficult to talk about, and you might rightly think me rather strange.

            You have received in your first package a letter from our Wardens and a commitment form; in the second package a letter from our Stewardship Chair, the package describing our Ministries at St Paul’s, a pie chart and a proportional giving chart. I do not want to repeat anything that is there, but I do want to commend to you the work that has been presented to you.

            Since Ash Wednesday we have been seeking to do things differently. They say you cannot teach an old dog new tricks! Our experience is that the old dog is teachable, it just takes a little more time. You must also know that we are in the vanguard of those in the Diocese who are looking to revitalize our parish. We want ours to be a Mission – based Parish, one that looks differently at Evangelism. We really, through the Ministries we have identified, want to witness more effectively in Esquimalt. And we are not alone in this, all of the members of the Ministerial Association are partnering with us. There is something of the Holy Spirit happening here that has not been felt for a good many years!

            Stewardship is a matter of the heart. We say the words quoted from the Prayer Book at the beginning of this letter regularly. I wonder if we realize what we are saying, and if we realize, how we are actualizing, how we are living out that commitment.    “..we offer and present unto thee, O Lord, ourselves, our souls and bodies, to be a reasonable, holy, and living sacrifice..”   The first item of the heart to be examined is our time. The things, people, causes to which we give our time are the things, people, causes we value. If you agree with my premise why not test it? The work we have been called to do, (and that work is only incidentally to preserve this church building), the work of spreading the Good News, the Gospel in Esquimalt will take all the time our hearts can give us. But honestly, what better work could we be called to sacrifice ourselves on? The second item of the heart is our money. Let me tell you what has just happened. Sometime on Sunday evening, the 5^th of November, the sump pump failed and we had a flood in the church basement. We lost the sump pump, the furnace and the water heater. The bill for the repair will be just over $1000. Today, out of the blue, we received a gift of $1000. It is a gift of the heart, a gift of a very generous God. We are meant to live in this faith all the time. It is God who motivates the heart! Of course, the good news is not just that we have a gift of $1000, the very good news is that God looks after us when we are doing his work. What better work could we possibly sacrifice ourselves on?

            Not all of you heard the presentation of our Treasurer and Stewardship Chair in Church, and that is a pity. The Treasurer talked of the miracle that is happening with regard to our finances, to date we are giving some 25% more than we did last year, and there is a real possibility that we will come close to breaking even at the end of the year. Our Stewardship Chair boldly stated that ours is no longer a question of survivability, now we will be evaluated on how well we flourish. The matter that is of concern is how we sustain the growth and the revival, how we encourage more to join us on this ever changing work that God has given us to do.

            As your spiritual leader my attitude and my advice are the same. As with the gift we have just received, we need to go on at full speed identifying and doing the work that God is calling us to do. Our hearts will thus be strengthened, and the Kingdom of God will flourish. Why, we might ask, would God reward something he does not want us to do? The matter is as profound, and as simple as that !!!

            In closing I want to say a word about upsets. You might think that unwise, after all an appeal should end on a positive note. Nevertheless, upsets there are! And they are there, in part, because we are attempting to do business differently. People do not like change, we like the familiar. To me the message of Ash Wednesday should have told us that if we continue to do business as we have in the past St Paul’s will close. The only way forward, sometimes a frightening way, most often an uncertain way, is to listen for the advice of God, and change. Unfortunately, God has not given us a handbook, we have no map. We must work out our future together in prayer.

            Please take this stewardship series seriously. No one is asking of you more than is “reasonable”, that’s the word used in the Prayer Book. We are asking that you get involved, from making cookies all the way to being chair of one of our ministry groups, every offering is important. We are also asking that you review your commitment financially to support the work that God is calling us to do in Esquimalt.
    Remember, Commitment Sunday is November 26.

 

God Bless you all,

The Rev Canon Andrew E. Gates, 

Rector

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				ST. PAUL 'S GIVING PATTERNS
					FOR	2005
				Find where you are on this chart
					(your weekly giving )
								1 mbr
								70+
								per week
							4 mbrs
							61-$70
							per week